Anya Taylor-Joy's Breakout Role Saved M. Night Shyamalan's Career

The actress's powerful performance in the psychological thriller "Split" helped revive the director's fortunes.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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After a series of high-profile failures, M. Night Shyamalan's career was in serious jeopardy. But the breakout success of his 2016 thriller "Split," led by a standout performance from Anya Taylor-Joy, helped launch the director's comeback. Taylor-Joy played Casey Cooke, a teenage outcast who is kidnapped by a man with dissociative identity disorder, and her nuanced, empathetic portrayal of the character was crucial to the film's impact.

Why it matters

Shyamalan had fallen out of favor with both critics and audiences, with films like "The Last Airbender" and "After Earth" damaging his reputation as a visionary filmmaker. "Split" not only continued an original superhero franchise by serving as a secret sequel to "Unbreakable," but it also proved that Anya Taylor-Joy was one of the best young actresses in the genre, capable of carrying a complex, psychologically-charged thriller.

The details

In "Split," Taylor-Joy appears as Casey Cooke, a teenage outcast who is kidnapped along with several classmates by the enigmatic Wendall Crumb (James McAvoy), a man with dissociative identity disorder. As the various personalities within Crumb's mind take turns interacting with the captives, Casey is forced to reflect on her own abusive childhood in order to survive. Taylor-Joy's nuanced performance was essential in making Casey a compelling, empathetic protagonist, hinting at the character's backstory and survival instincts without fully revealing them until later in the film.

  • "Split" was released in theaters in January 2016.

The players

Anya Taylor-Joy

A rising young actress who delivered a standout performance as Casey Cooke in "Split," helping to revive M. Night Shyamalan's career.

M. Night Shyamalan

The director of "Split" and other psychological thrillers, whose career was in decline before the success of the film.

James McAvoy

The actor who played the character of Wendall Crumb, a man with dissociative identity disorder, in "Split."

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What’s next

Shyamalan has continued his successful streak with films like "Old," "Knock at the Cabin," and the well-received Josh Hartnett thriller "Trap." The director is expected to continue exploring the psychological thriller genre that "Split" helped revive.

The takeaway

Anya Taylor-Joy's powerful performance in "Split" was crucial to the film's success and helped revive M. Night Shyamalan's career as a director of compelling, twist-filled psychological thrillers. The actress's ability to portray a complex, empathetic protagonist in a challenging role demonstrated her talent and versatility as a rising star in the genre.